Groundwater Festival set to draw 500 fourth graders

Posted: Tuesday, 29 April 2014

TROY - Some 500 fourth graders representing 19 classes from each school in Pike County will take part in the Pike County Groundwater Festival at Troy University tomorrow.

This year's theme is "Be a Water Hero." The students will attend three classes, "Edible Aquifer," "Drop in a Bucket," and "Water Bracelet," each that demonstrates a water quality principle, said Janet Gaston, an instructor in the Department of Biological Sciences who coordinates the event. In addition to the classroom demonstrations, the students will visit the Alabama PALS booth, a crayfish display and an aquarium display.

Held first in 2002, the annual festival's funding and in-kind support comes from Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Legacy, and local donors. In addition to ADEM and Legacy, the Pike County festival has enjoyed support over the years from the City of Brundidge, Troy University, and numerous businesses and organizations including, Lockheed Martin, The Choctawhatchee Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority, the Pike County Soil and Water Conservation District, Sodexo, the Troy University Environmental Club, the Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper, and other donors and volunteers.

"The festival would not be possible without Troy University's provision of facilities and many thanks go to the faculty and students in Troy University' s College of Arts & Sciences and the students of Goshen High School," Gaston said.